Back in District 6400!

Forgive my absence from the blog over the past two weeks. Sue and I had the pleasure of attending two Rotary Zone Institutes - one in Sandusky, Ohio, for the U.S. Rotary zone to which we belong (Zone 28), and the other in Victoria, British Columbia, (photo at right) site of this year's Canadian Institute (Zone 22).

Victoria is a beautiful city, and Rotary leaders came out in large numbers to learn about the latest projects and information about the Rotary Foundation.

District Governor Elect Neil and Cheryl McBeth had their "coming-out party" at both Zone gatherings, and Sue and I were honored to accompany them as they were formally introduced to attendees. They were officially welcomed by Rotary International President D.K. Lee and his wife Young, and R.I. VP and Zone 22 director Monty and Liz Audenart .

It was a wonderful week, but we're happy to be home, and returned with several more club visits, which I'll detail in another post.

Welcome District 6400 Youth Exchange Students!

Not only am I blessed to have my wife Sue as the Governor's First Lady, scheduler and much better-half, but the district is also fortunate that she serves as its Youth Exchange Chair, a job she has worked hard at for the past several years. Today, Sue and the equally-hard-working District Youth Exchange committee held its orientation for the 18 just-arrived Rotary Youth Exchange students from around the world.

After an introduction from Sue and yours truly, several committee members spoke to and with the students about all of the things they need to know while they're living in Canada and the United States. Inbound U.S. Coordinator Bill Jasman from the Rotary Club of Trenton worked with the students on helpful hints while they're here. Outbound U.S. Coordinator Jeanne Knopf DeRoche (Rotary Club of Plymouth AM) and Canada Coordinator Bev Cyr (Windsor 1918) made sure everyone's paperwork was correct, no easy task these days.

Events Coordinator Diane Ives from the Rotary Club of Dearborn shared this year's schedule of fun activities, including a trip to Cedar Point this month and October's Halloween Party, always a big hit. And Youth Protection Officer, PDG Roberto Sanchez from the Rotary Club of Grosse Ile, told the students that there are several important Rotary YE rules, designed for their safety.

After the orientation, the students had an afternoon picnic and swimming at the Southgate YMCA. Many thanks to the Rotary Club of Southgate, the Holiday Inn Southgate and the Y for sponsoring this great and important event in our district!

Chickens Overrun Plymouth!

Sue and I enjoyed the most amazing spectacle today... the Plymouth Rotary Club's 53rd annual Chicken BBQ, part of Plymouth's Fall Festival. Over 10,000 chicken dinners, including fresh-from-a-dedicated-farm-field corn-on-the-cob, are served this one day each year. It's a sight worth seeing, that's for sure.

Over 400 community volunteers, young and old, help serve the dinners. In addition to its primary downtown location in the midst of the festival, there's also a "drive-thru" outpost at the middle school, where thousands more are served.

Congratulations to the Rotary Club of Plymouth, which uses the funds raised from this event to do good in its community in the form of scholarships and dozens of service projects!

At the Rotary Zone 27/28 Institute in Kalahari

Sue and I once again had the privilege of attending the Zone 27/28 Institute, held this year at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio. To make it easier to govern, Rotary International is actually organized in three distinct levels... the clubs, of course, are the "members" of Rotary International. Groups of clubs form a "district," and we have 50 clubs in our "Super" District 6400. Next, several districts are grouped into 34 "zones" across the globe. It is these zones that elect the board of directors of Rotary International. DGE Neil & Cheryl McBeth and DGN Kim Towar and partner Dave Colton spent several days of pre-Institute training for future District Governors. As you can see, Neil took this very seriously.

The Zone Institute is the opportunity for past, present and future Rotary leaders to learn more about our organization, and much times is spent detailing innovative projects, Foundation programs and providing insight into the governance of R.I. It is also a great time for Past District Governors (PDG) to reconnect with their "classmates." Here, you see our own Past Rotary International Director (PRID) Bill & Marilyn Ives with fellow-Past Rotary International Vice-President Lou Piconi.

Immediate PDG Jennifer Jones and PRID Mike McCullough did a superb recap of the Rotary World Peace Summit held this past April in Windsor. They pointed out that, in addition to panels, speakers and seminars educating the community on the importance of peace, the event also served as a public-relations bonanza for both the event itself and Rotary.

Next, Sue and I join DGE Neil & Cheryl and PDG Jen in Victoria, British Columbia, for the Zone 22 Institute.